Life & Times

What Others Thought About Ellen

In 1878, at the age of 50, Ellen White was included in the reference book American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men of the State of Michigan:

“Mrs, White is a woman of singularly well-balanced mental organization. Benevolence, spirituality, conscientiousness, and ideality are the predominating traits. Her personal qualities are such as to win for her the warmest fellowship of all with whom she comes in contact, and to inspire them with the utmost confidence in her sincerity. … Notwithstanding her many years of public labor, she has retained all the simplicity and honesty which charactered her early life.

“As speaker, Mrs. White is one of the most successful of the few ladies who have become noteworthy as lecturers, in this country, during the last twenty years. Constant use has so strengthened her vocal organs as to give her voice rare depth and power. Her clearness and strength of articulation are so great that, when speaking in the open air, she has frequently been distinctly heard at the distance of a mile. Her language though simple, is always forcible and elegant. When inspired with her subject, she is often marvelously eloquent, holding the largest audience spellbound for hours without a sign of impatience or weariness.

“The subject matter of her discourses is always of a practical character, bearing chiefly on fireside duties, the religious education of children, temperance, and kindred topics. On revival occasions, she is always the most effective speaker. She has frequently spoken to immense audiences, in the large cities, on her favorite themes, and has always been received with great favor.”